Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 27569, member: 2262"] Senate Deputy President Michael Nyambuya feels sad about how often Zimbabwe's vice presidents and Cabinet ministers skip important Question-and-Answer sessions. This bad habit keeps citizens from learning about government plans, policies, and projects they need to know about. Parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda has noticed this unwanted pattern many times. He ordered punishment for high-ranking officials who miss these parliamentary sessions. They repeatedly avoid their duties despite warnings from leadership about this problem. This Thursday, Nyambuya looked disappointed when Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Vice President Kembo Mohadi, and most Cabinet ministers plus their deputies failed to attend key discussions in the Upper House. He read a very long list of people who sent excuses instead of showing up to do their jobs. The absence list included both vice presidents, the Finance Minister, the Youth Minister, the Foreign Affairs Minister, the Home Affairs Minister, the ICT Minister, the Industry Minister, the Transport Minister, the Energy Minister, and eleven deputy ministers from various departments. Only three officials actually came: the Primary Education Minister and two deputy ministers. Speaker Mudenda recently pointed out that most Cabinet members claim they miss Parliament because they're busy with national duties. He believes these excuses need checking since they happen every week. The Question-and-Answer session helps people track what elected officials accomplish through questions asked by MPs. For years, vice presidents and ministers have avoided these important sessions. Several lawmakers have complained about the problem since the previous Parliament. At one point, the Speaker threatened to report these officials directly to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for failing to perform their duties. President Mnangagwa has already warned Cabinet ministers against regularly skipping his weekly meetings. Some ministers keep sending deputies instead of attending themselves. During his final 2024 cabinet meeting at the State House on December 17, he announced that such behavior would face consequences in 2025. The President directed his Chief Secretary to track attendance carefully next year. He wants to ensure ministers and officials follow the rules properly or face serious trouble. The government leaders' absence creates real problems for democratic accountability and public information access across Zimbabwe. [/QUOTE]

Name